Amsterdam Dance Event Finalises Programme

The first Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE) took place in 1995 and it has since grown to be the most important event in the dance music calendar. It’s grown from a three day conference with 3000 attendees to a weeklong conference, exhibition and festival. The DJ and live side of the event now features over 2200 artists, making it the world’s biggest club festival.

Taking place between the 18th and 22nd of October, ADE 2017 is expected to attract around 375000 visitors, and the event caters to a number of different audiences. First, the event has a multi-stream conference, aimed at both industry professionals and those just starting out. The conference covers all aspects of the music industry, be it sampling law, mental health, Brexit,  streaming, acoustics or branding, as well as more esoteric sessions with intriguing names like ‘In Pursuit of Digital Happiness’ and ‘The Origin of Gatherings’. The 550 speakers include Kenny Dope, Irvine Welsh, Boys Noize, Gary Numan and Phillip Glass. ADE also includes ADE Beats:  the international platform for Hip Hop, bass and beats, the ADE Hackathon for innovation in technology and ADE Soudlab, a full programme of sessions on sound, technology and creativity.

Rather than the traditional exhibition hall full of synth manufactures and hearing protection companies, ADE has the ‘Playground’: a collection of “dance music-related exhibitions, films, documentaries, DJ showcases, gear master classes and artist MusicTalks, taking place across Amsterdam's five main districts, utilising historical locations and unique venues across the city.” So aside from a chance to check out the very latest DJ and production technology, there are tours of Amsterdam's famous street art scene, meditation groups, label showcases, a masterclass from Ferry Corsten, Hardwell’s  Revealed Day Conference on design, photography and production, and loads of lectures, DJ events and workshops.

Then there’s the festival programme, a feast for fans of any sub-genre of electronic music. This year ADE has 2,200 artists playing live and DJing in 120 venues across Amsterdam, with appearances from the likes of James Zabiela, 2 Many DJs & Tiga, Jeff Mills, Paul Oakenfold, Philip Glass, Nina Kraviz, Eats Everything and many more.

ADE covers the entire spectrum of the industry, and the full range of electronic genres and subgenres, catering for a wide range of professionals, semi-professionals and those who are simply there to enjoy the many delights and distractions on offer.

To check out the full programme and book tickets, visit the main ADE site.